ONE YEAR OLDER!

A few days before the 40th anniversary of my 39th birthday, I got a new printer, an Epsom Workforce Pro Wireless Color All-in-One Inkjet. It does everything except make my morning Nespresso. 

And, after a two hour phone consultation with “Sarah” in downtown Manila …. which included performing two downloads that immediately disappeared somewhere in my MacBook Air, plus a lengthy conversation about PDFs, USB cables and, OMG, the Ethernet (something my doctor needed for my tonsillectomy seven decades ago, I believe)  …. the printer was up and running.

Please note: the printer was not a birthday gift. (Mr. Wonderful wouldn’t dare.) But an Echo Studio was.

If you’re wondering what an Echo Studio is, here’s the key word that defines it:  “Alexa.” Yes, that lady who lives inside the machine and plays music, delivers the latest news and weather, and answers questions, such as: “Alexa, what is the Ethernet?”  “The Ethernet is a system for connecting a number of computer systems to form a local area network, with protocols to control the passing of information and to avoid simultaneous transmission by two or more systems.” 

Alrighty then. Now we know.

It’s yuuuuuge that Mr. Wonderful purchased an Alexa-laden Echo Studio for me. Ever since he first learned about these musical speakers, he’s been concerned and convinced that nosy Alexa would know his latest golf score and the plot of his third novel. I’d say to him, “So what if she does?” His answer: “That’s private information that I don’t want getting out there.”  (I guess he doesn’t post on GHIN. Or plan to publish.)

But he heard my plea: “I want music in the house!” You see, our decades-old Shark speakers that synced to a free Pandora app on my iPhone didn’t cut it anymore. Either the batteries needed immediate recharging or we couldn’t wake up Bluetooth (don’t get me started). And, when we finally activated the speakers, spam phone calls asking if I’d like to extend the warranty on a Lexus we sold three years ago continually interrupted my enjoyment of the Eagles’ greatest hits.

It was time to enter the 21st Century. 

And in our own way, we have. This Echo Studio plays whatever we want. I’m talking Mitch Miller, John Denver, Andy Williams, even Gogi Grant crooning “The Wayward Wind.”  Sometimes we feel adventurous and request the Traveling Wilburys or Eric Clapton. Maybe even slip in a Beethoven symphony or Mozart sonata. But none of that Billy Eilish or Miley Cyrus stuff. We’re old dogs.

The one problem, however, is remembering our favorite singers from back when the Dead Sea was still alive. Like beyond Frank Sinatra, Joni James and the Everly Brothers.

So … here I am, one year older and trying to get wiser. My printer is purring and Alexa is a help. Later I’m going to ask, “Alexa, what does ‘woke’ mean?” Let’s see how she does with that one.